An IOS Box pleat by Matt Newsome!

[Splash_4]

Gents,

Many of you may remember that I have been anxiously awaiting a box pleat from Matt Newsome. Well, my bride and I traveled to Franklin to see Matt over the weekend and to pickup the new kilt.

I will not go into the kilt details other than to say this thing is extremely well made! The strapping system that Matt uses with the one on the inside of the left hip is very easy to use making the kilt much easier to strap on.

The first thought on putting this thing on was "oh my goodness, I am naked!" the kilt is so much lighter than anything else I own. But after wearing it all day today while hiking is 'WOW" I really like this kilt.

There will be at least three other threads about this weekend. One about what a gentleman that Matt is and another on the water falls and things we did over the weekend and lastly, a detailed review of the kilt. But for now, I want to share the joy of my new kilt with pictures of the IOS. (Please forgive the socks. I made a mistake of bringing 1 black and 1 blue sock!))

Mike



and the pleat shot

[Tattoo Bradley]

CONGRATS!! That is AWESOME! I'm sure you've made mention elsewhere... but which weaver is the cloth by? I know a bunch of them offer it in various weights.

[ccga3359]

Ooooohhh, that's nice. I do want an IoS.

[BEEDEE]

CONGRATS!! That is AWESOME!

And I second that. A Matt Newsome box pleat is on my wish list.

Brian

[Riverkilt]

I'm with Bradley, what weight cloth by whom? Guessing that'll be in your review...but curoiouser and curiouser.

Sharp look

Ron

[Splash_4]

The cloth is 16oz Strome by Locharron

[McMurdo]

Well Splash welcome to the Brotherhood. I know it was a long wait enjoy.

[MacWage]

Sounds like a new "Box Pleat Convert!"

We need a name for this now:
The Box Batallion.

[Riverkilt]

Okay, help me here....my Isle of Skye is also 16oz Strome from Lochcarron, but I'd never think of it as "light."

Is that because of the box pleating?

I'm sooo confused.

Ron

[MacWage]

Okay, help me here....my Isle of Skye is also 16oz Strome from Lochcarron, but I'd never think of it as "light."

Is that because of the box pleating?

I'm sooo confused.

Ron

In a response I made in another thread I said:

"From the best known box pleat maker's site:
On the yardage:
http://kilts.albanach.org/yardage.html
On the shape of the pleat:
http://kilts.albanach.org/details.html

My version:


Say, A tartan has a 9 inch set, not uncommon.
Knife pleat, to stripe:
1 inch reveal, 8 inches for each pleat for a 4 inch deep pleat.
for a 24 inch pleated area, one needs 24 facings (1x24), or 24x9=216 inches
(roughly, as I am not taking a few factors into account, for simplicity)

A box pleat has 1/3 of a sett as a facing, 1/3 as the rear facing and 1/6 as each in pleat section (if that makes any sense).
So, that same 9 inch set makes a 3 inch facing.
for a 24 inch pleated area, one needs 8 facings (3x8), or 9x8=72 inches
(roughly, as I am not taking a few factors into account, for simplicity)
(on me, I'd make a small apron

The difference is in the pleats.
In a box pleat, there would be 2 yards in back and 2 in front (counting aprons and reverse pleats).
In a knife pleat, there would be 6 yards in back and 2 in front.

A box pleat also swings a bit different and "feels" rather different.
I think it feels more balanced (front to back), and the facing pleats act as a bit of an "anchor" to the pleats in wind, while the knife spreads like an accordian.
Most box pleats are also made in 16 oz or heavier wool, a BEAR weight in a knife pleat. I havn't had much of a wind problem in my 16 oz box.

A knife has the swing, while a box is, to me, more comfortable to actually wear in daily activities. I am comparing it to a 16 oz 5 yard knife I made first, so I can't imagine sitting and driving in an 8 yarder."

(The original recipient dubbed me "Lord of the Box Pleat.")